Bottle holder for lunch kit

ABSTRACT

A lunch kit incorporating a bottle holder that is interconnected with the members of the lunch kit container and which is adapted to hold a vacuum bottle or the like against movement when the lunch kit is in its closed position. The bottle holder is interconnected with the members in such a way that it is moved automatically to a released position when the lunch kit is opened and is moved automatically to a bottle restraining position when the lunch kit is closed.

United States Patent [1 1 Duevel BOTTLE HOLDER FOR LUNCH KIT [75] Inventor: Paul R. Duevel, Norwich, Conn.

[73] Assignee: King-Seeley Thermos Company,

Ann Arbor, Mich.

[22] Filed: May 13, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 469,348

[52] US. Cl 206/544; 220/23 [51] Int. Cl. B65D 43/16; A45C 11/20 [58] Field of Search 206/544, 541; 220/23 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1928 Walter et al. 206/544 3/1932 Gerhardt 206/544 NOV. 25, 1975 Pikcr 206/544 Maynard 206/544 Primary E.\'aminerWilliam T. Dixson, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Fl'rmHarness, Dickey & Pierce [57] ABSTRACT A lunch kit incorporating a bottle holder that is interconnected with the members of the lunch kit container and which is adapted to hold a vacuum bottle or the like against movement when the lunch kit is in its closed position. The bottle holder is interconnected with the members in such a way that it is moved automatically to 21 released position when the lunch kit is opened and is moved automatically to a bottle restraining position when the lunch kit is closed.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 i 1 I I I I l BOTTLE HOLDER FOR LUNCH KIT BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to a lunch kit and more particularly to an improved bottle holder for. a lunch kit.

Lunch kits normally have provision in their compartments to hold and support a vacuum bottle or the like. It is the practice to employ a bottle holder that is manually moved to an engaged position to hold the vacuum bottle in place when the lunch kit is closed. The requirement of separate manual latching causes difficulties in that if the user forgets to latch the bottle holder in its engaged position, the bottle .will fall from its restrained position when the lunch kit is closed causing damage to either the contents of the lunch kit, the bottle or both. p 7

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide a bottle holder for a lunch kit that is automatically moved to its bottle restraining position when the lunch kit is closed. 7

It is another object of theinvention to provide an improved bottle holder for a lunch kit that is automatically moved to its released position when the lunch kit is opened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is adapted to be embodied in a lunch container member 12, which forms the main body of the lunch kit, and a second container member 13, which forms the cover of the lunch kit. The container members 12 and 13 are pivotally connected relative to that is adapted to receive a packaged lunch such as sandwiches or the like, as is well known in this art. In

a like manner, the cover 13 is formed with an enlarged cavity thatis'specifically configured to receive. an

kit or the like which comprises a container comprised of first and second container members movable relative position. The container members define a cavity when in their closed position and provide access to the cavity when in their opened positions. Aretaining member is supported by one of the container members for movement between a retaining position and a released position. The retaining member is adapted to coact with one of the container members when in its retaining position to retain a vacuum bottle or the like within at least a portion of the cavity and to permit removal of the vacuum bottle when in its released position. Means are provided for positively moving the retaining memher from its retaining position to its released position when the container members are moved relative to each other between their closed position and their opened position and for positively moving the retaining member from its released position to its retaining position when the container members are moved relative to each other from their opened position to their closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lunch kit embodying this invention and shows the lunch kit in its opened position.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the lunch kit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view, in part similar to FIG. 2, showing the lunch kit in its closed position.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottle holder embodying this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A lunch kit embodying this invention is identified generally by the reference numeral 11. The lunch kit 11 is comprised of a container that consists of a first appropriate vacuum bottle, indicated in broken lines and identified by the reference numeral 16. When the lunch kit- 11 is in its opened position (FIGS. 1 and 2) the vacuum bottle 16 may be conveniently inserted into the cover cavity 15 through its open upper end.

A bottle holder, indicated generally by the reference numeral 17 is provided for retaining the vacuumvbottle 16in a storage position in the cover cavity 15 when the lunch kit 11 is in its closed position (FIG. 3). The bottle holder 17 may be conveniently formed from a piece of molded plastic and has a configuration as shown in detail in FIG. 4. The bottle holder 17 is a generally A shape and is comprised of side legs 18 and 19 each of which has a respective projection 21 and 22 at. its inner end. The projections 21 and 22 are snapped into appropriate cavities formed in the cover 13. to pivotally. c onnect the bottle holder 17 relative to the cover 13.

i The legs 18 and 19 terminate atytheir other ends in across piece 23, which is integrally formed with ,the legs 18 and 19. Additional cross pieces 24 and 25 extend between the legs 18 and 19 to offer further support. A flexible, integral hinge 26 is connected: to the cross piece 25 intermediate its ends. The hinge26 has an end portion 27 that is adapted to be received in a suitable pocket 28 formed integrally with the body member 12 to effect a connection between thehinge piece 26 and the body member 12. A pair of integral reduced thickness areas 29 and 31 on; the hinge piece 26 form pivotal connections, for a reason which .will become apparent as this description proceeds.

The bottle holder cross piece 23 is offset relative to the major plane of the legs 18 and 19 as clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and is adapted, when in the restraining position, to seat upon a shoulder 32 formed integrally with the body member 12 on the side opposite its hinge 14. In this position, the vacuum bottle 16 will be restrained and supported as clearly shown in FIG. 3. When the lunch kit 11 is opened from the position shown in FIG. 3 the cover member 13 will pivot toward the fully opened position about the integral hinge 14. The hinge member 26, due to its pivotal connection to the body member 12 and the bottle holder 17 will cause the bottle holder 17 to pivot relative to the cover member 13 when the lunch kit is opened. This pivotal movement will cause the bottle holder 17 to swing to a related position shown in FIG. 2 relative to the cover member 13 as the cover member 13 reaches its fully opened position. In this released position, the vacuum bottle 16 may be conveniently removed from the cavity 15 or inserted into this cavity.

When the lunch kit 11 is closed from the position shown in FIG. 2, pivotal movement of the cover member 13 relative to the body member 12 about the hinge 14 will be accompanied by pivotal movement of the bottle holder 17 relative to the cover member 13. By the time the cover member 13 reaches approximately the 90 position from shown in FIG. 2 the bottle holder 17 will engage the vacuum bottle 16 and retain it within the cavity 15. Upon complete closure, the bottle holder cross leg 23 will again be supported on the body member ledge 32 to again restrain the vacuum bottle 12 in its storage position.

From the foregoing it should be readily apparent that a relatively simple and inexpensive bottle holder is provided that is automatically moved between its bottle restraining position and its released position in response to movement of the lunch kit between its closed position and its opened position. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lunch kit or the like comprising a container comprised of first and second container members movable relative to each other between a closed position and an opened position, said container members defining a cavity when in their closed position and providing access to said cavity when in their opened position, a retaining member supported by one of said container members for movement between a retaining position and a released position, said retaining member being adapted to coact with one of said container members when in its retaining position to restrain a vacuum bottle or the like within at least a portion of said cavity and being positioned free of contact with the vacuum bottle to permit removal of the vacuum bottle when in its released position, and means for positively moving said retaining member from its retaining position to its released position when said container members are moved from their closed position to their opened position and for positively moving said retaining member from its released position to its retaining position when said container members are moved from their opened position to their closed position.

2. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the container members are pivotally connected to each other for movement between their opened and closed positions.

3. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retaining member is pivotally supported by the one of the container members for movement between its retaining position and its released position.

4. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 3, wherein the container members are pivotally connected to each other for movement between their opened and closed positions.

5. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 4, wherein the retaining member is pivotally supported by the second container member, the means for positively moving the retaining member comprising a hinge member pivotally connected at one of its ends to said retaining member and pivotally connected at its other end to the first of the container members for effecting pivotal movement of the retaining member upon pivotal movement of the container members.

6. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first container member comprises a body member defining a second cavity and the second container member comprises a cover defining the first mentioned cavity, said first container member defining a portion adapted to supportingly engage the retaining member at a point spaced from its point of pivotal support by said cover member when said container members are in their closed position.

7. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 4, wherein the retaining member comprises a single piece of molded plastic having a generally A shape, the outer ends of said retaining member being pivotally connected to the second container member and the hinge being integrally formed with said retaining member the pivotal connections of said hinge being formed by weakened sections of said hinge.

8. A lunch kit as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first container member comprises a body member defining a cavity and the second container member comprises a cover defining the first mentioned cavity, said first container member defining a portion adapted to supportingly engage the retaining member at a point spaced from its point of pivotal support by said cover member when said container members are in their closed position. 

1. A lunch kit or the like comprising a container comprised of first and second container members movable relative to each other between a closed position and an opened position, said container members defining a cavity when in their closed position and providing access to said cavity when in their opened position, a retaining member supported by one of said container members for movement between a retaining position and a released position, said retaining member being adapted to coact with one of said container members when in its retaining position to restrain a vacuum bottle or the like within at least a portion of said cavity and being positioned free of contact with the vacuum bottle to permit removal of the vacuum bottle when in its released position, and means for positively moving said retaining member from its retaining position to its released position when said container members are moved from their closed position to their opened position and for positively moving said retaining member from its released position to its retaining position when said container members are moved from their opened position to their closed position.
 2. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the container members are pivotally connected to each other for movement between their opened and closed positions.
 3. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retaining member is pivotally supported by the one of the container members for movement between its retaining position and its released position.
 4. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 3, wherein the container members are pivotally connected to each other for movement between their opened and closed positions.
 5. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 4, wherein the retaining member is pivotally supported by the second container member, the means for positively moving the retaining member comprising a hinge member pivotally connected at one of its ends to said retaining member and pivotally connected at its other end to the first of the container members for effecting pivotal movement of the retaining member upon pivotal movement of the container members.
 6. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first container member comprises a body member defining a second cavity and the second container member comprises a cover defining the first mentioned cavity, said first container member defining a portion adapted to supportingly engage the retaining member at a point spaced from its point of pivotal support by said cover member when said container members are in their closed position.
 7. A lunch kit or the like as set forth in claim 4, wherein the retaining member comprises a single piece of molded plastic having a generally A shape, the outer ends of said retaining member being pivotally connected to the second container member and the hinge being integrally formed with said retaining member the pivotal connections of said hinge being formed by weakened sections of said hinge.
 8. A lunch kit as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first container member comprises a body member defining a cavity and the second container member comprises a cover defining the first mentioned cavity, said first container member defining a portion adapted to supportingly engage the retaining member at a point spaced from its point of pivotal support by said cover member when said container members are in their closed position. 